A texting driver is 23 more times likely to get into a car accident than a non texting driver. For those people killed by a driver who was distracted, 995 reported that they used their cell phone or mobile phone. The reason for this statistic should be clear to all of us who drive. A driver who is texting takes his or her eyes off the road an average of five seconds. At highway speed, the distance traveled in that time amounts to the length of a football field. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a driver who used a cell phone or mobile phone (in other words, a “hand held device”) while driving, was four times as likely to get into a car accident that caused him to be seriously injured or killed. These conclusions on the effects of a distracted driver were compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). http://tiny.cc/5mm0jw The NHTSA recommends adopting a “designated texter” while driving. Have a passenger check or send messages for you while you do the driving. Check this link for a table listing the states which have adopted laws addressing cellphone use while driving. http://tiny.cc/w0m0jw